Chapter 6: The Dungeon

Ignoring Ryuu's flustered face, Alisa clapped her hands, her voice commanding. "Alright, everyone! Get ready!" One by one, the members of the Astraea Familia stacked their hands, forming a solemn circle of unity. At the top of the stack was Ryuu's hand. Only one person remained—Akira. Alise urged with a grin, "Hurry up and place your hand too. You're our partner now." Akira hesitated for a breath, then slowly placed his hand on top. The moment his skin touched Ryuu's, he felt her hand slightly tremble. Yet she didn't recoil. As an elf, Ryuu carried a deep-rooted custom—never allowing skin contact unless she accepted the person. If it were anyone else, she would have shaken them off without hesitation. But this time, she didn't. Her face flushed with color, and she struggled to maintain her composure. "Mission accomplished! Correct the scales! Until the day I fall and become a star!" "Maintain order! Fight against evil! Justice will never die in our hearts!" The solemn chant of justice echoed in the air like a sacred hymn. It was the anthem of the Astraea Familia. Their declaration. Their proof. "Running side by side with the sky, filling this land with star trails!" This was the vow engraved deep within the hearts of those who lived for righteousness. "Swear to the sword and wings of justice!" "Swear to the sword and wings of justice!" Akira's voice joined theirs, firm and unwavering. Under Astraea's watchful gaze, he and the girls bound themselves to a shared oath—a promise of justice. Akira silently thought, 'I don't particularly yearn for justice, but... for their sake, why not become a partner of justice?' After the vow concluded, Kaguya turned to him and said, "Let's go. First, I'll take you to get your equipment. Then, we begin your first adventure." Kaguya led him down a narrow path veering away from the main street, guiding him toward the heart of Orario's southwestern district, a region filled with shops and upscale residences. In the center stood a stately branch of the Hephaestus Familia's workshop, across from which was the Blue Pharmacy, owned by the Miach Familia. "That's the place." Kaguya said, pointing to a shop. Its design matched the elegant yet sturdy buildings that surrounded it. "Alise said it's best to use ordinary gear at first." Kaguya explained as they approached, "Later, we can forge better equipment using materials from monsters. This'll do for now." Inside, Akira and Kaguya selected basic armor pieces and a spear measuring approximately 1.7 meters in length. All of it was funded by the generous pocket money given to Akira by their captain. Afterward, they made their way to the city's center—toward the Tower of Babel. The towering white spire stretched endlessly into the sky, piercing the heavens with an awe-inspiring presence. Despite Orario's appearance as a thriving metropolis, at its core, it was a fortress built around the Dungeon—a military stronghold wrapped in civilization. The Tower of Babel wasn't just for show. It served a crucial purpose. Acting as a seal and cover for the Dungeon beneath, suppressing the monstrous nest below that once overflowed with chaos. From afar, the tower looked majestic. But up close, it was overwhelming. They entered. A vast corridor stretched ahead, leading into a massive underground cavern nearly ten meters high. A spiraling staircase curled along the inner wall of the colossal cylindrical space, leading them downward—into the depths beneath the Tower of Babel. The first underground floor was vast, wide enough to accommodate thousands at once. This was a safe zone—a haven from the madness below. Two cloaked figures walked quietly, hoods covering their features, as they reached the true entrance to the Dungeon. Although this place was underground, the light-blue crystalline walls shone faintly, illuminating their surroundings with a mysterious, magical glow. Before them stretched a living labyrinth—natural tunnels twisting in every direction, an underground maze that swallowed the unprepared. Even with a map, a novice like Akira could easily lose himself in this subterranean nightmare. Then— Bang! A sharp crack shattered the silence. Stone splintered. Spiderweb-like cracks spread across the walls. From the shadows, four goblins emerged. Small, hunched, unarmed—but their bloodshot eyes burned with savage fury. The first one roared and charged. "Go." Kaguya said coolly, "It's time to fight monsters." Akira didn't hesitate. He stepped forward. With swift precision, he drove his spear through a goblin's skull. Blood splattered as he spun, compressing wind magic into his fingertips. He struck another goblin in the head, causing it's skull to burst apart in a red mist. Without stopping, he sidestepped a claw swipe and swung his spear again, slamming two goblins into one another. Before they could recover— Boom! A magic-infused ice orb exploded between them, freezing and shattering their bodies. The battlefield fell silent. "For your first outing, that wasn't bad." Kaguya said, tossing Akira a small dagger, "Now, it's time to learn how to harvest the magic stones." Akira frowned, eyeing the goblin corpse on the ground. With an uneasy breath, he crouched, gripped the dagger, and began to cut. Warm blood soaked his fingers as he reached inside, groping blindly. Sticky chunks of flesh clung to his skin. He turned to Kaguya, his expression pitiful. "I really... don't wanna do this anymore." "Don't act spoiled." She replied without sympathy, "Every adventurer has to do this. No exceptions." "Ugh... it's so gross..." Reluctantly, Akira returned to the task at hand. After a while, his fingers brushed against something hard. At last, he pulled it out—a magic stone no larger than a fingernail. As soon as it was removed, the goblin's body lost its color, began to break apart, and crumbled into dust. Within seconds, it vanished completely, as though it had never existed. This was the Dungeon. A living, breathing labyrinth. Monsters emerged from the walls, only to disappear into them again. No matter how many were slain, the tide never ended. Kaguya asked, "By the way, how much do you know about the Astraea familia?" Akira replied, "Emm... It has been less than five years since its establishment, but it is strong and united. All members are women, and it is a righteous clan." Kaguya asked, "So, do you know the price of maintaining order and justice?" Akira solemnly said, "Offending others." Kaguy nodded and said, "That's right. Maintaining order means we will fight against those evil familias, and enforcing justice means we have to fight evil head-on." "So our Astraea familia is not really welcome in Orario. For justice and order, we have offended many people." "Adventurers can die at any time, so bullying is everywhere. We are too noble and don't fit in in Orario. If we can't get along with them, we will be seen as a thorn in their eyes." "Of course, they don't dare to confront us openly, because we are strong and united, and we are the protectors of Orario." "They dare not attack us who have grown up. But it is different for a novice like you. In the next adventure, do not trust anyone except your familia, and do not reveal that you are a member of the Astraea familia." Akira understood what Kaguya meant and asked, "Does that mean I have to take this risk alone?" Kaguya said, "Well, all the members of our familia are familiar faces, and you are the only newcomer. If you are found to be in a team with us, it may bring you unnecessary trouble." "No matter what, you are also a member of our familia. I don't want to hear that you are injured."